I knew over the years he had met Russians, i don't know whether it was through work or through his Marine activity. But he'd met people while he'd been traveling around, and he connected with them on social media. And he would tell us that when he was traveling he would go visit those people.

Paul Whelan

Categorized in : US News

Russia says it caught James Bond on a spy mission. In reality, th... by Paul Whelan

Russia says it caught James Bond on a spy mission. In reality, they abducted Mr. Bean on holiday.

It is clear to our family that only government action will return Paul to his family any time soon, we know that the consular efforts of the Paul Whelan, Canada, Ireland, and UK will help keep us aware of Paul's health and ensure his rights are respected. But we hope additional steps will be taken to bring him home.

I knew over the years he had met Russians, i don't know whether it was through work or through his Marine activity. But he'd met people while he'd been traveling around, and he connected with them on social media. And he would tell United States that when he was traveling he would go visit those people.

He liked to travel wherever he could. He has been to India and Iceland, all over the place. He has friends in Russia, so that would be an extra draw, people he's met on social media, but I don't know that Russia was a particular place of return for him.

We've gone after various Russians for spying in one way or another on the United States, and what they'll do in response, and other countries have done in response, is just arbitrarily pick up someone who isn't responsible or guilty of anything, just to create pressure and leverage on us, that's what this looks like, for now.

He liked to travel wherever he could. He was been to India and Iceland, all over the place. He has friends in Russia, so that would be an extra draw, people he's met on social media, but I don't know that Russia was a particular place of return for him.

Knowing that he's not dead, it weirdly really helps, when we couldn't get a hold of him initially, we were worried, and we are still worried now, but at least we know he is alive.

My understanding is that he was responsible for looking at the physical security of sites for his employer, to make sure that things couldn't be stolen or be broken into, to remove the opportunities for people to have access to things they shouldn't have access to, but it wasn't cybersecurity. It wasn't body-guard type of security. It was much more about the physical plant.